Lee Murdock

Lee Murdock has uncovered a boundless body of music and stories in the Great Lakes. The music is grounded in the work song tradition, from the rugged days of lumberjacks and wooden sailing schooners. Murdock comes alongside with ballads of contemporary commerce and revelry in the grand folk style. There is a sweetwater treasure in his songs about the Great Lakes, full of drama and inspiration in the lives of sailors and fishermen, lighthouse keepers, ghosts, shipwrecks, outlaws and everyday heroes.

"There is a real wealth of songs and stories from the Great Lakes which have not yet been explored," says Lee. Lee composed many of these stories into songs, "because they tell such fascinating and inspiring stories of people and events, and because no song has survived from traditional sources."

Lee Murdock began his performing career in the Chicago area in the mid 1970's, expanding his repertoire of blues and popular music as his interest in folk music and the maritime tradition grew. Interestingly, it was a one-week residency with the Philadelphia Folksong Society which first linked Lee's musical identity with the Great Lakes. After a week of in-school performances which they sponsored, Lee took their enthusiastic response to heart, and has been taking his Great Lakes music programs to school children and adult and family concerts ever since. Educational programs continue to be one important aspect of the 150 shows Lee presents every year in the U.S. and Canada.

For more information visit his website at: leemurdock.com